Edward Enninful Assembles 40 ‘Legendary Women’ For His Farewell British Vogue Cover

By Anita Singh
Daily Telegraph UK
Lensed by Steven Meisel, Edward Enninful's final British Vogue issue features 40 cover stars. Photo / British Vogue

The final British Vogue issue under Edward Enninful’s helm has been revealed, and it’s a celebration of many names and faces who helped shape his vision of the London-based Condé Nast title. Vacating the position of editor-in-chief he was the first man and first black person in the role he will take on a new appointment as global creative and cultural advisor for Vogue. Enninful’s successor is Chioma Nnadi, who has the new title of head of editorial content, a change that aligns with the streamlining of other global editions of the magazine in recent years.

Edward Enninful has assembled 40 “legendary women” for his farewell British Vogue cover.

‌Supermodels and stars from the worlds of film, television, fashion and sport gathered in New York for the “once in a lifetime” shoot with photographer Steven Meisel.

‌It is the largest number of women ever shot together for a Vogue cover.

‌All have previously featured on the front of the magazine during Enninful’s six-year tenure.

‌Oprah Winfrey sits at the heart of the picture, which includes Serena Williams, Jane Fonda and Victoria Beckham.

‌There are two model mother-and-daughter pairings: Kate and Lila Moss, and Cindy Crawford and Kaia Gerber.

‌Crawford is joined by fellow supermodels Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Amber Valletta and Naomi Campbell, while Adut Akech, Vittoria Ceretti and Anok Yai represent the new generation.

Cover stars include, from left, Gemma Chan, Simone Ashley, Rina Sawayama, Anya Taylor-Joy, Maya Jama, Paloma Elsesser and Jameela Jamil. Photo / Ned Rogers, British Vogue
Cover stars include, from left, Gemma Chan, Simone Ashley, Rina Sawayama, Anya Taylor-Joy, Maya Jama, Paloma Elsesser and Jameela Jamil. Photo / Ned Rogers, British Vogue

‌British talent includes the actresses Jodie Comer and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, singer Dua Lipa and presenter Maya Jama.

Model Adwoa Aboah, who graced Enninful’s first cover in December 2017, is there, as is Laverne Cox, the first trans person to front an issue.

‌Other faces include singer and actress Cynthia Erivo, actress and disability campaigner Selma Blair, models Iman and Karen Elson, Cara Delevingne and Miley Cyrus.

‌Enninful said: “So here it is: my 76th and final edition of Vogue, six-and-a-half years and 153 cover stars later, including the 40 legendary women who feature on this cover.

‌”It’s been an extraordinary ride and an absolute honour.”

Enninful added: “As I step into my new role, as Conde Nast’s global creative and cultural advisor for Vogue, I’m determined to keep championing the incredible array of voices in fashion and media, and ensure we keep the energy explosion of the last few years going.

“We always say it, because it always needs to be said: there is a great deal yet to be done.”

Campbell, who counts Enninful as one of her closest friends, said that his “honest persuasion brought together 40 of the world’s most influential women” for the “breathtaking” farewell cover shoot.

Writing in the Telegraph, Campbell said in tribute to Enninful: “He’s shown us fashion is more than clothing; it’s a powerful tool for social change, embracing diversity to create a more inclusive and inspiring world...

“His path isn’t driven by a desire for status or titles, but instead by a rebellious, fearless and collaborative spirit — a pattern that defines him.”‌

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